A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of display positions disposed in a display area, a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at respective display positions, and an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether the selected symbols correspond to a winning outcome with reference to at least one of a plurality of defined win lines. Each of the defined win lines comprises at least one display position, and at least some of the win lines comprise differing numbers of display positions. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A gaming system for playing a game, the gaming system comprising: a player interface configured to receive an input from a player; a video display having a predefined number of display positions; a plurality of display groups each formed from a number of said display positions, at least two of said display groups having different numbers of said display positions, and wherein each said display group is associated with a reel of symbols; a symbol selector configured to select for display at each of said predefined number of display positions of each group a symbol from a corresponding reel of symbols in accord with the player interface having received an input; and an outcome evaluator configured to determine whether the displayed symbols at respective display positions correspond to a winning outcome of said game with reference to a plurality of predefined win lines, each of said win lines being defined by a number of display positions through which the win line passes including at least two display positions; and wherein a first win line of the plurality of win lines traverses each of the plurality of display groups at least once passing through a display position of each of the display groups, and a second win line of the plurality of win lines traverses a) a first display group at least once passing between display positions of the first display group and b) a second display group at least once passing through a display position of the second display group; and wherein at least two of the plurality of predefined win lines are defined by a different number of display positions through which the respective win line passes.
2. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display positions are disposed in a display area, and wherein at least one symbol from each reel is viewable through the display area.
3. A gaming system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the reels are disposed so as to be rotatable about an inclined axis.
4. A gaming system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the reels are rotatable about an axis disposed less than forty-five degrees relative to horizontal.
5. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , and wherein said game has a normal mode and a special game mode, and wherein in said normal game mode, said game comprises at least one base game, and wherein in said special game mode, said game comprises at least one feature game, and said win line in the feature game comprising differing numbers of display positions.
6. A gaming system as claimed in claim 5 , and further comprising a game controller configured to commence said special game mode when a specific game outcome occurs.
7. A gaming system as claimed in claim 6 , and wherein said game controller is configured to commence said special game mode on said video display of a particular symbol, in response to a player input, based on the amount or type of bet placed, or when a special game is purchased by a player.
8. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , and further comprising a game play mechanism configured to receive a wager, and wherein said outcome evaluator evaluates the outcome based on said wager.
9. A method of gaming for use with a gaming system playing a game, and having a player interface configured to receive an input, a gaming controller and a display device including a predefined number of display positions, the method comprising: displaying on said display device a plurality of display groups each having a number of said display positions, at least two of said display groups having different numbers of said display positions, and wherein each said display group is associated with a reel of symbols; selecting via the gaming controller for display at each of said predefined number of display positions of each group a symbol from a corresponding reel of symbols in accord with the player interface having received an input; forming a plurality of predefined win lines, including forming each of a first win line from at least two display positions through which the first win line passes and forming a second win line of the plurality of win lines to traverse a) a first display group at least once passing through a display position of the first display group and b) a second display group at least one passing between display positions of the second display group, and forming at least two of the plurality of predefined win lines by a different number of display positions through which the respective win line passes; displaying said selected symbols at respective display positions; and determining whether the displayed symbols at respective display positions correspond to a winning outcome of said game with reference to said at least one win line.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9 , and wherein said reels comprise a plurality of physical reels, each physical reel having an associated set of symbols, and at least one symbol from each physical reel being viewable through said display position.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 , and further comprising disposing said physical reels so as to be rotatable about an inclined axis.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11 , and further comprising disposing said physical reels so as to be rotatable about an axis disposed less than forty-five degrees relative to horizontal.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 , and wherein said game has a normal mode and a special game mode, and wherein in said normal game mode, said game comprises at least one base game, and wherein in said special game mode, said game comprises at least one feature game, and said win line in the feature game comprising differing numbers of display positions.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , and further comprising commencing said special game mode when a specific game outcome occurs.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14 , and further comprising commencing said special game mode on display of a particular symbol, in response to player input, based on the amount or type of bet placed, or when a special game is purchased by a player.
16. A method as claimed in claim 9 , and further comprising receiving a wager via a game play mechanism; and generating said outcome based on said wager.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 25, 2013
November 22, 2016
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